Understanding SASE and its benefits in network security

SASE or Secure Access Service Edge is a network architecture that merges security with SD-WAN to create a unified cloud service. SASE benefits include Wide Area Networking (WAN) deployment, correct bandwidth allocation, and increased security per application. 

SASE, a cloud-based service, making it suitable for rapidly changing times as it allows itself to be scalable. The SASE package is a combination of technologies such as Secure Web Gateway (SWG), SD-WAN, Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA), Firewall as a Service (FWaaS), and Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB). 

All of which makes it a robust network security solution that can perform multiple tasks like identifying sensitive data and malware, continuously monitoring sessions, decrypting data, and assessing trust and risk levels.  

The top 10 benefits of SASE

1. Cost control 

The advantage of SASE is that it can provide a single cloud-native solution instead of the disjointed model of various physical and virtual applications from different vendors. Organizations can deliver better services and technologies under a single umbrella. It helps eliminate the need to use multiple vendors, saving in costs, time, and unnecessary complexity in the network. Any upgrades, security patches, and network maintenance are simplified and reduce costs. Another savings is the reduced workload of IT staff and. Deploying SASE solutions helps organizations trim their IT staffing costs without compromising on providing continuous network monitoring and security responses.

2. Scalability

Similar to application delivery by Azure, Digital Ocean, and AWS, SASE does for WAN architecture. SASE allows scalability and elasticity within the WAN infrastructure. The hub & spoke and point-to-point solutions require more time and resources to scale up and down. In contrast, in a cloud-based SASE solution, the IT load minimizes and streamlines provisioning time. With the help of SASE, IT can get a site online faster compared to traditional WAN. Also, with the use of cloud platforms, there will be less requirement for physical hardware. Hence, that means less maintenance downtime and fewer software licenses. The improved efficiencies and allow IT to focus more on security and network monitoring.

3. Better Management

The ease of management is one of the main benefits of using SASE. Its single-point cloud-based management application helps to control the entire network service easily. For example, managing SD-WAN, SWG, VPN, NGFW devices across offices in different locations of an organization requires a more extensive IT team to work with them. 

In the case of SASE, the complexity to manage the existing network of physical locations and the additions as the organization grows does not arise as it is a single cloud-based management application. It controls the ever-growing organization network seamlessly and does not take time for maintenance tasks like patches.

4. End to end security

The cloud-native SASE model protects all the edges of network security. Its functionality included the SD-WAN, SWG, IPS, NGFW, and the next-gen network architecture. The WAN optimization ensures that network security is robust, which in turn provides improved performance. 

5. Simple security model 

The legacy network system often requires additional security devices to keep up with the latest security standards and requirements. Most legacy solutions fail to deliver the latest security functions such as SWG, NGFW, and IPS. Therefore, businesses deploy more security solutions to fill the gap. However, it makes the whole system complex and adds to different problems.

6. Data Protection

Nowadays, many companies are collecting, processing, and distributing massive amounts of data. 

The data consists of confidential business, customers, and intellectual property. Data loss Prevention (LDP) is a practice of protecting these sensitive data against loss, misuse, or theft, irrespective of where they are stored. 

DLP is enabled through the cloud-based SASE, which automates several DLP processes that include discovery and classification of sensitive data whether in use, transit, or storage. The SASE DLP authenticates devices and users and controls who has access to information and applications. The SASE allows one to apply for protection across the network, including more than one cloud application, on-premise applications, multiple applications, and mobile devices. 

7. Better network performance

SASE ensures continuous network monitoring that discloses data flow performance, including remote data streams distributed across cloud environments and data centers. The efficient monitoring divulges all inbound and outbound process connections in a single portal or network interface. With more networks expanding to remote locations, connecting them is a challenge unless one uses SASE, which connects the network reliably and securely. SASE  

can be beneficial for a new domain of users, such as work from home employees. This group has been difficult to monitor and control. The result is that there is no latency added due to network monitoring. 

8. Greater control of data usage

Organizational risks are always dynamic as users and applications keep on changing, connections and disconnections happen regularly. To mitigate the risks by understanding how users, devices, applications, and services interact in the network, visibility of these applications is essential for monitoring and identifying any vulnerability in network security.

ZTNA (zero-trust network access) is a new approach that allows enterprises to gain granular visibility and control of systems and users in an organization. Migrating to a ZTNA enabled SASE platform enables organizations to get and utilize these capabilities.

9. Secure access to Cloud Data 

Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB) and SASE deliver cloud security in overall network security services. The CASB enables the data to be secure when shifting the workload to the cloud.

10. SD-WAN integration 

SD-WAN uses centralized control to direct traffic across the WAN. This design increases the application's performance, business productivity, enhances user experience and lowers IT costs. Here SASE bridges the cloud service into SD-WAN, thus providing remote users and offices in other locations secure access. The SASE minimizes or eliminates the need for specialized hardware or security applications and converges various network and security aspects into a single cloud security platform.

Takeaway

Data security is non-negotiable for any organization. Today's businesses have more users, applications, data, and services spread across cloud services. At each endpoint, security is necessitated, and SASE offers an efficient way to meet that challenge.